The FSASC conference is scheduled for April 19-20 at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld.

Segal, an FSASC member, is scheduled to present on Thursday, April 19, from 10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Her topic is "Infection Prevention Update – Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection."

The description of her session is as follows: "This year highlights a major update of the 1998 'Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection' and includes strategies that are important in the outpatient setting as well as inpatient. The presentation will also include antimicrobial stewardship as it pertains to the ASC setting."

This annual FSASC meeting focuses solely on the development of superior quality outcomes in ASCs and reducing the risks present in patient encounters. The mission of FSASC is to "...advance the ASC industry through community awareness and government advocacy and to promote the professionalism of its members through education, networking and the exchange of information."

To arrange an on-site meeting in Orlando or schedule a phone consultation with Phenelle, contact ICCS.

About Infection Control Consulting Services (ICCS)

ICCS is a provider of infection prevention and infection control services headquartered in Florida. Serving ambulatory surgery centers, hospitals, outpatient care facilities, dentists and all other healthcare organizations in Florida and throughout the country, ICCS services include assistance with accreditation survey preparation and regulatory requirements, on-site facility visits, preparation of and assistance with corrective plans of action related to survey deficiencies, and infection preventionist mentoring and onboarding.

Sep 8, 2017

Researches from the University of Florida are participating in a clinical trial that evaluates whether an anti-cancer medication can serve as an effective treatment for sepsis and septic shock, according to a UF report.

Sepsis is the body's extreme response to an infection. It is life-threatening, and without timely treatment can rapidly cause tissue damage, organ failure and death.

Researchers are working to determine whether an immunotherapy drug used to treat patients with types of non-small cell lung cancer and other variants of the disease can also treat sepsis patients. The drug blocks a protein, which then boosts the immune system.

As data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality notes, sepsis (septicemia) was the most expensive condition treated in U.S. hospitals in 2013, accounting for nearly $24 billion in aggregate hospital costs. This is more than $7 billion higher than the second most expensive condition treated (osteoarthritis).

The clinical trial involves organizations from throughout the country. The report indicates that UF is the only center in Florida recruiting participants for the trial at this time.

Aug 3, 2017

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) has announced it has confirmed the first sexually transmitted Zika case in 2017.

The case was confirmed in Pinellas County. The DOH reported that the individual's partner recently traveled to Cuba and had fallen ill with symptoms consistent with Zika. Both tested positive for Zika. The virus can remain in semen for months after infection, even without symptoms, and can be spread to partners during that period of time.

Following confirmation, the DOH stated it notified mosquito control, which is rolling out mosquito reduction activities.

Zika infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, which is a sign of incomplete brain development. Physicians have identified other problems in pregnancies and among fetuses and infants infected with Zika virus before birth.

There is no evidence of ongoing transmission of Zika by mosquitoes in any area of Florida at this time.

As of August 1, the total number of Zika cases reported in Florida in 2017, which is broken down as follows:

Travel-related Infections of Zika — 90

Locally acquired infections exposed in 2016, tested in 2017 — 6

Undetermined exposed in 2016, tested in 2017 — 22

For five things you should know about Zika, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, click here.

Dec 14, 2016

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared Florida to be free of the Zika virus, but emphasized the need for caution.

The CDC noted, "There have been no new cases of local Zika virus transmission identified in South Miami Beach for more than 45 days, suggesting that the risk of Zika virus infection is no longer greater than in the rest of Miami-Dade County."

Miami-Dade County continues to carry a yellow area designation, meaning it's a cautionary area. Pregnant women in Miami-Dade County remain eligible for Zika virus testing.

CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden praised Florida's rapid response and comprehensive mosquito control program for interrupting Zika transmission, but noted that "... we must stay vigilant and also take what we have learned and be prepared for next season."

As of December 8, a total of 4,575 cases of Zika had been reported in the continental United States and Hawaii, according to CDC. These cases include 185 locally transmitted mosquito-borne cases in Florida, 38 cases believed to be the result of sexual transmission, and one case that was the result of a laboratory exposure.

While Florida has been declared Zika-free, the same cannot be said for all U.S. states. Texas just confirmed four new local cases.

Nov 17, 2016

The week of November 14-20, 2016, has been designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as "Get Smart About Antibiotics Week." This annual one-week observance is intended to raise awareness of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic prescribing and use.

As the CDC reports, at least 30% of antibiotics prescribed in hospital clinic, doctor's offices and emergency departments are unnecessary. This equates to 47 million unnecessary prescriptions written in those settings. Each year in the United States, at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die as a direct result of the infections.

Such statistics emphasize the need for organizations to develop and maintain antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs. As of 2015, about 50% of all hospitals had instituted an AMS program. The White House issued a "National Action Plan to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria" in 2015, which included a goal of 100% of hospitals establishing an AMS program by 2020.

CDC provides links to a few websites of hospital AMS programs throughout the country to serve as examples intended to assist organizations with developing their own AMS programs. Included is a link to the AMS program website for the University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospitals.

The program is named "GotaBug." The following are steps the program advises hospital staff members to take to help reduce antimicrobial resistance:

Take an antibiotic "Time Out" as part of your daily rounds

Reassess antimicrobial therapy based on cultures and susceptibilities

Pick the correct drug, dose and duration

De-escalate broad spectrum antimicrobials whenever possible

Stop antimicrobials when no longer needed

Get your annual flu shots

Wash your hands

Florida-based infection control consultant Phenelle Segal, RN, CIC, president and founder of Infection Control Consulting Services (ICCS), and the ICCS team of consultants assist healthcare organizations with the development of AMS programs as part of their ongoing effort to preventing infections. To learn about how ICCS can help your organization, contact ICCS.

ICCS is a Florida-based provider of infection control consulting for surgery centers, dental offices and many other types of healthcare organizations. Services provided by the ICCS team, led by Phenelle, including developing, implementing and maintaining evidence-based infection prevention and control programs as well as providing educational programs to meet client needs.